READY, AIM ... NOW WHAT?
Strategic planning - everyone needs it, but few seem to have time for it ... or make time for it. Businesses either don't do it at all and for various reasons ("It takes too long," "It's too high level," "It doesn't help me today," "It's too expensive," etc.) or businesses do it, but don't come away from the process with an actionable plan. Here's the reality ... if you don't have a strategic plan, you need one. It doesn't have to be an extensive or expensive process, but every business needs to know where it's going and why it exists and have clearly articulate objectives. If you have a strategic plan, but it's not an integral part of your day-to-day business activities and decisions, then you are a victim of "ready, aim ... now what?" A strategic plan that has not been made actionable and put into action is not much more valuable than not having a plan at all. And there's no excuse for not having an actionable strategic plan.
The following are three critical concepts regarding strategic plans. First, don't get caught up in the belief that a strategic plan has to be extensive, time consuming or costly. While you may sometimes need a full blown plan for specific purposes, what you mainly need is a plan with goals, objectives, action steps and, most important, accountability. Even if you are only accountable to yourself, putting it in writing will create some level of accountability. Even better, work with an advisor, coach, partner, mentor or anyone else that can hold you accountable for what you have committed to do and achieve in writing. Accountability works because accountability works!
Second, discussing and deciding upon your mission, vision, purpose and core values is essential. Too many businesses skip these steps (either never considering them or racing through this phase of the process.), but it's fundamental to great organizations. Great businesses not only know why they exist and what's important to them, but they integrate this into their business on a daily basis. Businesses need to not only know where they are going, why they are going, and why they exist, but the answers to these questions must be at the heart and sole of the business, including being the key ingredient when significant decisions are being made. Most often your why is more important than your what.
Third, your plan most be action oriented - every plan is worthless unless or until it's executed. I'm a fan of simple, but robust strategic plans - I call them strategic action plans - which include SWOT analyses, core values and purpose, goals (short and long term), critical numbers that drive your desired results, clear objectives (with time frames), and action plans with stated accountability (who is responsible for doing what and by when). It doesn't have to be complicated, but the most critical part of any plan is clear actions and clear accountability. This is what drives the right actions for the right reasons, which in turn creates your desired results.
An often seen cartoon contains the following line: "Where are you going? I don't know, but I'll let you know when I get there." In business we need to be clear about two things. First, the more appropriate response is "I'll let you know if I get there." Second, if you don't know where you're going, you almost certainly won't get there and, even if you do, you won't even know it. Business like life is full of choices - you can choose to have a clear vision on your road to a great business or you can choose to simply do your business and hope for the best. The choice and the results are up to you.
